Interface meeting for auto fare

President of Joint Committee of Coimbatore Autorickshaw Workers’ Unions P. K. Sukumaran (left) answering questions from the public at an interface on meter fare organised by Kural at the Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry auditorium on Friday. Kural vice-president D. Balasundaram (second left), chairman Jaykumar Ramdass (third left), secretary N. Krishnakumar (fourth left) and joint committee secretary Anwar Basha (right) are in the picture.An interface between autorickshaw unions and the public over meter fare in the city on Friday saw leaders of the unions vehemently protesting against the opinion that the drivers were always on a collision course with the passengers.

Representatives of the unions even went to the extent of seeking the support of the public and voluntary organisations for their demand for Rs.20 as the minimum fare up to one-and-a-half km and Rs.10 for every subsequent km.“We are not enemies of passengers. We want to charge a meter fare, but fix one that will provide a decent living for the drivers,” president of the Joint Action Committee of Coimbatore District Autorickshaw Workers’ Unions P.K. Sukumaran said.Kural, a public movement for the development of Coimbatore, and the Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry organised the interface to enable the unions to explain why the rejected the new fare of Rs.14 and the public to express their resentment over the fleecing so far.

Questions from the public were given in writing and read out by Kural chairman Jaykumar Ramdass so that a verbal exchange between the two sections was avoided. The questions covered all aspects of the fare issue and the functioning of the autorickshaws and even their stands.Mr. Ramdass began the meeting by explaining that its objective was to get to the root cause of a fixed fare not being charged in Coimbatore. “There is a maximum retail price displayed on all products. The buyers get to know the price and decide whether to buy the products or not. But, no passenger in Coimbatore knows what fare he or she will have to pay.”

Mr. Sukumaran said: “We also want this issue resolved. No driver or union opposes meter fare. But, it has to be reasonable.” The committee presidents noted that the fare issue cropped up only when a new Government or an official assumed charge. He pointed out that there was no sustained focus on resolving this issue.“We believe that a uniform fare cannot be fixed for the entire State. Chennai city cannot be the basis for fixing a fare for the entire State. The passenger flow in Chennai is huge. There are not many people visiting Coimbatore city, as there are in Chennai,” he argued. What Mr. Sukumaran implied was that with the local population having other options, the drivers were justified in asking for a higher fare for better income.

Mr. Sukumaran claimed that the drivers were willing to charge Rs.12 as minimum fare a few years ago. But, there was no support from the public and the transport officials.To a public opinion that autorickshaw stands were the cause for fleecing, Mr. Sukumaran said the stands had been instructed to charge reasonably. “We also need to earn the respect of the public.”Secretary of the committee Anwar Basha regretted “unfair” criticism of the unions in the media by some organisations. “When the core city area within which passengers travel is just four sq.km., how will Rs.14 be sufficient for us?”

Autorickshaws were already being marginalised by the rising number call taxis that were an unauthorised mode of public transport.To a question how autorickshaws charged meter rates in Kerala, Mr. Sukumaran claimed that the rates in towns and cities in that State varied with the local conditions.When the union office-bearers refuted charges of harassment of passengers, Mr. Ramdass said there was a strong public opinion on this and that the unions should take a serious view of it.

An element of uncertainty over a change crept in when Mr. Sukumaran said even if Rs.20 were to be fixed as meter fare, its acceptance by the drivers would depend on public support. Mr. Sukumaran was indicating that if very few passengers hired autorickshaws, the drivers would find even Rs.20 unaffordable.Vice-President of Kural D. Balasundaram said transportation was vital in a developing industrial city. Stand-off between drivers and passengers should be avoided and union should negotiate with the Government on the fare. “When you go on strike, only the public are affected and not the Government,” he pointed out.Kural secretary N. Krishnakumar appreciated the unions’ response to the call to discuss issues surrounding the fare directly with the public. “This helps in knowing each other’s problems better,” he said.

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